Fairport Harbor moves forward on water upgrades: East Street tower, interconnect and smart meters
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Summary
Officials said the East Street water tower came online in March 2025 and described planned upgrades including a Fourth Street main upgrade, Saint Clair interconnect Phase 2 design, a water loss audit and an AMI smart‑meter project with new rates expected in 2027.
Fairport Harbor officials outlined multiple water‑system projects during the State of the Village address, saying the East Street water tower was brought online in March 2025 and that the village plans further upgrades to distribution and metering.
The presenter described the East Street tower as a "once in a generation investment" that increases pressure and reliability for homes and businesses in the village center. He said the Orchard Street tower was demolished in 2025 after being used for fire‑department training and that the contractor installed a new park entrance in its place.
Planned projects and studies: Officials previewed a Fourth Street sanitary and water project that may replace a 6‑inch main with an 8‑inch main, install new stormwater pipes and catch basins, chip‑line sanitary sewer pipes and repave affected blocks; scope will depend on available funding. "We'll be having some conversations about that in the first part of the year," the presenter said.
Officials said the Saint Clair Street interconnect Phase 1 is complete and Phase 2 is in design, connecting the village across the bridge to Painesville City to provide a second source of water; the presenter said this project was supported by a $929,000 grant. The village completed a water loss audit and is working with the Ohio Rural Water Association on a rate study with new rates expected in 2027 to cover the cost of purchased water and system maintenance.
On metering, the presenter described an automatic meter infrastructure (AMI) project that would allow monthly billing, real‑time usage and leak alerts to reduce high or unnoticed bills and improve planning for capital work.
Why it matters: The village said these measures aim to modernize a system it described as more than a century old, reduce basement flooding through sanitary chip lining, and ensure financial sustainability for maintenance and capital improvements.
What’s next: Officials said design work and funding decisions will determine the final scope and timeline for Fourth Street and AMI projects, with the rate study informing new water rates expected in 2027.